The Inbox September 2016

INBOX

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Delivering the latest news to Henry County employees

September ‘16 Published by Henry County Communications Department & Henry County Board of Commissioners Editors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Graphic Designer Samantha Watson

Please contribute to the monthly employee newsletter!

Email Communications Specialist, Samantha Watson at swatson@co.henry.ga.us.

Contributions can include: original artwork, comics, pictures, announcements, classifieds or columns.

By Samantha Watson

Contributors Meredith Butler Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Chyah Williams-Thompson Kevin Williams

In an effort to promote happy, healthy lifestyles and improve employees lives, the Human Resources Department has launched a county-wide wellness initiative, which was recently named Get Fit Henry through an open employee submission and voting process.

Probation officer in the Juvenile Court, Jeff Fox submitted the name, which beat out many other entries with 40.88% of the vote.

Get Fit Henry is now in full swing— gaining speed with its first group fitness activity, the annual Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/ Walk that takes place on Thursday, September 22 in downtown Atlanta, across from Turner Field. Since Kaiser is sponsoring the county’s participation, there is no cost for county employees or their spouses to attend. For more information about the event, training programs leading up the event and to register, visit https://runsignup.com/ corporateteams/henrycounty.

But wait; there’s more!

Because education is just as imperative to health as movement is, HR is hosting a Health and Wellness Fair October 11 through 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Administration Building in Conference Room B. Active county employees are invited to attend the event which will have daily drawings, door prizes, refreshments, informative booths, free flu shot vaccinations, free blood pressure screenings and free Get Fit Henry t-shirts. The event is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, local gyms, Piedmont Henry and more.

For more information on Get Fit Henry events, head over to the ground floor of the Administration Building to find a new wellness bulletin board next to the tag office which sports all kinds of information on wellness initiatives promoted by the county. For any specific questions, give HR reception a call at 770-288-6000.

September ‘16

Did you know that you’re supposed to drink AT LEAST half your body weight in ounces of water per day?

According to WebMD, when your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated. The website listed the following as reasons to drink water every day: • Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Your body uses water to complete functions such as digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature.

• Water can help control calories. Food with higher water content tends to require more chewing and is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full.

• Water helps energize muscles. Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue.

• Water helps keep skin looking good.

Dehydration makes your skin look drier and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration.

• Water helps your kidneys. Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells to cleanse your body. When you’re getting enough fluids, urine flows freely, is light in color and free of odor. If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones.

• Water helps maintain normal bowel function. Adequate hydration keeps things flowing along your gastrointestinal tract and prevents constipation.

The Inbox

Strong with sam

Introduction to yoga

1. Table Top Hand and Leg Extension: Start on your hands and knees, shoulder and hip width apart. Inhale as you extend the right leg and left arm. Gaze forward and broaden across the upper back, spreading your should blades, tucking hte lower ribs in and drawing in your tummy. Stay for 5 breaths. Repeat on other side.

2. Puppy Pose I: Start on your hands and knees, shoulder and hip width apart. Stack the hips directly over the knees, draw the lower belly in and allow a gentle hip flexion. Drop the forehead toward the ground, actively reach forward with your shoulders and actively straigten your arms by drawing your elbows toward each other. Close your eyes and stay for 5 breaths. Rest in Child’s Pose then repeat 3 times.

3. Camel Pose: Start in a kneeling position with your feet and knees hip-width apart. Draw your thighs toward each other and inhale as you send your hips forward, lifting your ribs away from your hips and sending your sternum up. Exhale as you arch your spine then place your hands on the soles of your feet or your heals. Roll your shoulders forward to rotate the joints and then let your head drop back. Stay for 5 breaths, inhale to come up and exhale to rest in Child’s Pose.

Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced 3. Camel Pose

2. Puppy Pose I

September Health Observances September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Fruits & Veggies More Matters Month, Healthy Aging Month, National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, National Food Safety Education Month, National ITP Awareness Month, National Preparedness Month, National Recovery Month, National Sickle Cell Month, National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, National Yoga Awareness Month and World Alzheimer’s Month.

National Awareness Month Topics: • Atrial Fibrillation, also known as AFib or AF, is a type of irregular heartbeat. Irregular heartbeats can cause blood to collect in the heart and potentially form a clot, which can eventually cause a stroke. It is common in people 65 and older and more common in people with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

• Childhood Obesity affects 1 out of every 5 children in the U.S. Children who have obesity are more likely to have it as adults and raise thier children to have it as well.

• Food Safety Education month provides free training for the restaurant and foodservice industry to help reinforce proper food safety practices and procedures.

• ITP, or immune thrombocytopenia, is an automimmune disease where your body mounts an immune attack toward its normally functioning platelets.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused by trauma to the brain and are not related to genetics or family history. At least 2.5 million children and adults sustain TBIs in the U.S. each year.

National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder that we all must take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work and also where we visit. This year’s theme places emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Throughout the month there are weekly preparedness themes featuring Preparing Family & Friends where people are encouraged to make safety plans with their family and friends, Preparing Through Service where people are encouraged to volunteer their time during emergencies, Individual Preparedness where people are encouraged to make personal emergency plans and lastly, the Lead Up To The National Day of Action.

To Prepare Through Service, Henry County residents can join the Community Emergency Response Team or, C.E.R.T., that promotes a partnering between emergency management and response agencies and the people in the community that they serve. The goal is to train members of neighborhoods, schools, churches and workplaces in basic response skills. To learn more, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/911.

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September ‘16

SAFETY FIRST Importance of New Hire Training with Chyah Williams-Thompson

Tiffany Hunter

employee spotlight

Enviornmental Compliance Specialist “The Stormwater Management Department was created to address water quality in our streams.

As a team, we serve the community via education, infrastructure and green sustainability. I appreciate that my supervisor encourages us to engage in professional development and share our ideas.

Because of her openess I can incorporate studies within my field that I’m passionate about in my daily work; like testing for mosquito types around County streams. Once off the clock, I typically go to the gym to work out and relax or I’ll go hiking at local trails.”

The Inbox

New hires are at a higher risk for injuries in the work place. Employees in their first month on a new job have more than three times the risk for injury than workers who have been at their job for a year or more. Possible reasons for this include the unfamiliarity with new surroundings and new safety protocols. If you’ve never worked around hazardous materials then how are you supposed to identify them and steer clear? A new employee’s risk perception may also lead them to underestimate dangerous or hazardous situations.

In addition to being new and wanting to make a good impression, a new employee might not want report hazardous conditions in fear of some sort of retaliation. They may also fail to recognize hazardous conditions. Training, especially in orientation and reinforcement is paramount to protecting new workers.

Employers should learn what new workers have been trained for in previous positions, assign them appropriate tasks and not assume they know all of their safety rights. Supervisors should consider that all people learn differently and that some people are more hands-on and others more of auditory learners. Supervisors should adapt their training styles to make sure everyone fully understands what is being taught and what is expected of them. This can help transition new workers safely into their new working environment.

Visit www.henrycommunicator.com to learn more.

Making Us Proud Congratulations to the Traditional Big Dogs Softball Team with Therapeutic Recreation for bringing home the gold from the Special Olympics North America Softball Championships! Athletes Darrel Thorton, Rashad Richardson, Matt Knowles, Raymond Craft, Jarvis Williams, Tarcia Keys, Chris Lewis, Charles Minnix, Brittany Thurman, Jacob Stewart, Joel Evans, Mathew Chancey, Chip Ford and Justin Jeffreys were coached by Babbie Spain, Terry Brooks, Amanda Carlton, Sharon Chancey and Tony Knowles.

Probation Officer in the Henry County Juvenile Court, Jeff Fox, is the creator of the new name for the County’s Wellness Initiative.

His entry, “Get Fit Henry” won by 40.88% of the vote and was up against entries such as “Henry County Strong,” “Healthy, Happy, Henry” and “Live Well Henry County.” Jeff won a $25 gas card for his submission as a thank you for his participation.

Purchasing Director, Rod Gray was a guest a speaker at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Boosters Luncheon on Spetember 15 alongside Chuck Schadl with the Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech. Gray spoke about Henry County’s procurement policies and procedures and gave advice on how to become involved in a business relationship with the County.

Congratulatios to the Unified Volleyball Team with Therapeutic Recreation for bringing home the gold from the 2016 USAV Open National Championships, which makes them the National Champs for Speical Olympics for the past four years! Athletes Brandon Hughley, PG Griffin, Kyle McEver, Chip Ford, Jeff Johnson, Michael White and Ben Dollar were coached by Larry Johnson, Charles Stephens, Chad Parker, Mark Hanson, Jim Wilson, Leah Santera and Jacob Adkins.

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September ‘16

Office Notes

How long is an eon?

Karaoke is a Japenese word that means what?

Kaiser 5k run/walk • This corporate event is free to Henry County employees and their spouses and will be full of fun, fitness and camaraderie. It takes place 9/22 at 6:30 p.m. in Downtown Atlanta adjacent to Turner Field, with registration for the event ending on 9/19. Race finishers will get a free t-shirt. To sign up and learn more visit runsignup.com/corporateteams/henrycounty.

Kaiser 5k Training • Get Active Atlanta is an 8-week training program for the Kaiser 5k happening now until 9/22 that includes training schedules for runners and walkers of every level (including a fat burning option for each), discount coupons for healthy lifestyle items and services in the Atlanta area and weekly fitness tips.

• From now until 9/17 there is also a Saturday morning training program with pace groups that meets at Ansley Mall at 8 a.m. that welcomes all levels of runners and walkers.

Lunch & Learn • The Extensions Office is hosting a Lunch and Learn lecture with an emphasis on wildlife on October 11 at noon at the Extensions Office in Heritage Park. Participants are encouraged to pack their own lunch.

The Inbox

Which artist created the sculpture “The Thinker?”

What was the first music video played on MTV? How many elevators does the Empire State Building have?

Who was the shortest player ever to play in the NBA? Lake Tahoe straddles the border between which two U.S. states?

How many paintings did Vincent Van Gogh sell during his lifetime?

How many chambers are there in a dogs heart?

The original Ghostbusters movie was released in June of what year?

Answers to the triva questions are listed on the employee intranet on the communications page.

‘Tis the season for sniffles and snuggles Autumn is here!

D C N Y A N B L S A O W Z L Y

B U J O L Y I L L W U A E N Y

O O C N L I A M L T Z R O H R

X O O L Q V M G A A G M T K D

C S C C Q H E E I K S R T T D L I S W N S E L G H J S P A Q N L F F O A W U M I R N A D T H N S J R N G T N I F D K C I

F U P I P G N S S G N N G O I

C N D J F U H E U I P O T O D

J M Q D M N A J F P V K J T V

S U H W L S O F P Q M V B B B

B T C J O E L B L S O S P A L

F U M N H E S E V A E L O L Y

N A N H S X O S M O R E S L Z

Fall Faves Word Search AUTUMN, BONFIRES, BOOTS, CHILLY, CINNAMON, COCOA, CUDDLES, FALL, FAMILY, FESTIVALS, FOOTBALL, LEAVES, PLAID, SEASON, SMORES, SNIFFLES, SNUGGLES, WARMTH

This Day in History • 1620: Mayflower departs England • 1810: Mexican war of independence begins • 1932: Gandhi begins fast in protest of caste separation.

• 1993: Frasier Debuts

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